Prevention measures could have averted nearly 70% of premature cancer deaths among women worldwide in 2020, according to a study by The Lancet Commission on Women, Power, and Cancer and the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The research revealed that out of the 5.3 million adults aged 30 to 69 who died prematurely from cancer in 2020, 2.3 million were women.
Approximately two-thirds of these deaths could have been prevented through preventive measures. The study highlighted inequalities in premature cancer deaths between countries, particularly those with low Human Development Index (HDI) scores, which encompass various factors like living standards. In addition to the loss of lives, it’s estimated that around one million children worldwide lost their mothers due to these premature deaths.
Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, deputy head of the Cancer Surveillance Branch at IARC and co-chair of the Lancet Commission on Women, Power, and Cancer, emphasized the need for greater investments in cancer prevention programs to reduce key risk factors for cancer and address global cancer inequalities. The research identified four primary risk factors contributing to cancer deaths in women: tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, high body weight, and infections. Interestingly, the study revealed that only 19% of women in the United Kingdom who underwent breast cancer screening were aware of the significant risk associated with alcohol consumption.
Furthermore, the analysis pointed to a growing link between certain commercial products, such as specific breast implants, skin lighteners, and hair relaxers, and an increased risk of cancer among women. Financial burdens were also highlighted in the study, with data from eight Asian countries indicating that a significant majority of women with cancer spent over 30% of their annual household income on expenses related to medical care and medication in the year following their diagnosis. Additionally, women were found to be the primary unpaid caregivers for individuals with cancer.
To address these challenges, the researchers advocated for a “new intersectional feminist agenda for cancer care” aimed at creating more inclusive and responsive health systems, cancer workforces, and research ecosystems, ultimately reducing the global cancer burden among women.